June
W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration
in New England and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney
for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ALEJANDRO DELGADO,
also known as “Carlos Ramerez,” age 27 (DOB 2/7/79), of
Port Lucie, Florida, was sentenced yesterday, August 31, by Senior
United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford, to 70 months
of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. On May
22, 2006, CONCEPCION pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess
with intent to distribute, and to distribute, one kilogram or more
of heroin.

This
matter stems from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
(“OCDETF”) investigation dubbed “Operation SAPO,” which
began in late 2004 and was spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration. On August 10, 2005, a federal grand jury sitting in
Hartford returned and 18-count indictment charging 23 individuals with
various narcotics offenses, primarily related to the distribution of
heroin.

According
to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, beginning
in the fall of 2004, the DEA began an investigation of Luis Camacho,
a drug trafficker operating in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Following
several controlled purchases of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine
and methamphetamine, from Camacho, a wiretap investigation of Camacho
began in late March 2005. During the course of that wiretap, it was
quickly learned that Camacho’s heroin supplier was Alfredo Aguilar
of Willimantic. A subsequent wiretap investigation of Aguilar revealed
that he operated an extensive heroin trafficking operation involving
several other Willimantic-area residents, and that Aguilar was supplied
with approximately one-half of one kilogram of heroin on a monthly
basis by Jose del los Santos Rubio Betancurth of Hartford and Juan
Carlos Velez of New Britain, which Aguilar and others redistributed.
DELGADO was a source of supply of heroin that Juan Carlos Velez and
Jose del los Santos Rubio Betancurth redistributed to Aguilar.

Searches
at the conclusion of the four-month wiretap investigation resulted
in the seizure of approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, 350 grams of
heroin, 400 grams of methamphetamine, two handguns and cash. At the
time of his arrest, DELGADO was found in possession of approximately
250 grams of heroin and $14,000 in cash, which has been forfeited to
the Government.

Camacho,
Aguilar, Betancurth and Velez have pleaded guilty to various narcotics
trafficking charges and each awaits sentencing.

Willimantic
is a Department of Justice recognized and funded Weed and Seed site.
Weed and Seed is a Department of Justice strategy that aims to prevent,
control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in
targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. Law enforcement
agencies and prosecutors cooperate in “weeding out” criminals
who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent
their return to the targeted area. “Seeding” brings human
services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment,
and neighborhood revitalization.

This
investigation was a collaborative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration
Hartford Resident Office, which included members of the Hartford, East
Hartford, Southington, Manchester and West Hartford police departments,
the Willimantic Police Department, the Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts
State Police, the Southbridge, Massachusetts police department, the
DEA Worcester, Massachusetts Resident Office, the State’s Attorney’s
Office for the Judicial District of Windham and the United States Attorney’s
Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney Dave Vatti.